Serine-7 of the RNA polymerase II CTD is specifically required for snRNA gene expression

RNA polymerase II (Pol II) transcribes genes that encode proteins and noncoding small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs). The carboxyl-terminal repeat domain (CTD) of the largest subunit of mammalian RNA Pol II, comprising tandem repeats of the heptapeptide consensus Tyr1-Ser2-Pro3-Thr4-Ser5-Pro6-Ser7, is required for expression of both gene types. We show that mutation of serine-7 to alanine causes a specific defect in snRNA gene expression. We also present evidence that phosphorylation of serine-7 facilitates interaction with the snRNA gene-specific Integrator complex. These findings assign a biological function to this amino acid and highlight a gene type-specific requirement for a residue within the CTD heptapeptide, supporting the existence of a CTD code.     

Wnt3a-mediated formation of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate regulates LRP6 phosphorylation

The canonical Wnt-beta-catenin signaling pathway is initiated by inducing phosphorylation of one of the Wnt receptors, low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6 (LRP6), at threonine residue 1479 (Thr1479) and serine residue 1490 (Ser1490). By screening a human kinase small interfering RNA library, we identified phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase type II alpha and phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate 5-kinase type I (PIP5KI) as required for Wnt3a-induced LRP6 phosphorylation at Ser1490 in mammalian cells and confirmed that these kinases are important for Wnt signaling in Xenopus embryos. Wnt3a stimulates the formation of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphates [PtdIns (4,5)P2] through frizzled and dishevelled, the latter of which directly interacted with and activated PIP5KI. In turn, PtdIns (4,5)P2 regulated phosphorylation of LRP6 at Thr1479 and Ser1490. Therefore, our study reveals a signaling mechanism for Wnt to regulate LRP6 phosphorylation.     

The DNA binding arm of lambda repressor: critical contacts from a flexible region.

Segments of protein that do not adopt a well-ordered conformation in the absence of DNA can still contribute to site-specific recognition of DNA. The first six residues (NH2-Ser1-Thr2-Lys3-Lys4-Lys5-Pro6-) of phage lambda repressor are flexible but are important for site-specific binding. Low-temperature x-ray crystallography and codondirected saturation mutagenesis were used to study the role of this segment. All of the functional sequences have the form [X]1-[X]2-[Lys or Arg]3-[Lys]4-[Lys or Arg]5-[X]6. A high-resolution (1.8 angstrom) crystal structure shows that Lys3 and Lys4 each make multiple hydrogen bonds with guanines and that Lys5 interacts with the phosphate backbone. The symmetry of the complex breaks down near the center of the site, and these results suggest a revision in the traditional alignment of the six lambda operator sites.     

鸭SCD1基因启动子多态性对血清生化指标的遗传效应

[目的]分析鸭SCD1基因启动子多态性与血清生化指标的遗传效应,揭示鸭SCD1基因启动子的生理调控机制,为今后开展畜禽SCD1基因研究及遗传标记选育提供参考依据.[方法]构建基因组DNA池,利用PCR-RFLP结合DNA直接测序技术检测鸭SCD1基因启动子区遗传变异情况,采用MegAlign寻找SNP位点,通过在线启动子分析软件预测SNP位点对鸭SCD1基因启动子g.952260~g.954527区域转录因子的影响,并以SPSS 19.0分析启动子酶切位点变异对父母代樱桃谷鸭血清生化指标的遗传效应.[结果]从樱桃谷鸭SCD1基因启动子g.952260~g.954527区域共检测到11个SNPs位点.其中,g.952323C>A和g.952661A>G位点突变分别致使原有转录因子D1和Sp1消失;g.952702A>G位点突变则产生新的转录因子TEC1;g.952591T>C、g.952868A>T、g.952869T>G、g.952971G>C和g.953301T>C突变区域无转录因子结合位点,也未产生新的转录因子结合位点;g.952873T>G和g.954401T>C位点突变未引起转录因子改变;g.954239C>T位点突变导致原有转录因子Sp1、Sp1、Tra-1和AP-2α改变为Sp1、Tra-1、ETF和Sp1.通过PCR-Bgl II-RFLP和直接测序比对分析,发现g.952868A>T和g.952869T>G双碱基突变造成原始序列AGT952868G952869CT突变成AGA952868T952869CT,而产生新的Bgl II酶切位点,共产生3种基因型:CC(2268 bp)、CD(2268+1659+609 bp)和DD(1659+609 bp),2个等位基因(C和D).CC基因型和C等位基因分别为优势基因型和优势等位基因,其频率分别为0.710和0.805;有效等位基因数(Ne)和多态信息含量(PIC)分别为1.458和0.265,属中度多态位点;卡方(χ2)检验结果表明,Bgl II酶切位点突变所产生的基因型分布严重偏离哈代—温伯格平衡(χ2>χ20.01,P<0.01).Bgl II酶切位点变异与父母代樱桃谷鸭血清生化指标的关联性分析结果表明,总体上以DD基因型樱桃谷鸭的血清生化指标略优于其他两种基因型.[结论]樱桃谷鸭SCD1基因启动子g.952260~g.954527区域共筛查到11个SNPs位点,其中g.952868A>T和g.952869T>G位点变异产生新的Bgl II酶切位点,且该酶切位点变异可能对鸭血清生化指标有调控效应.     

The DEAD-box RNA helicase Dbp5 functions in translation termination

In eukaryotes, termination of messenger RNA (mRNA) translation is mediated by the release factors eRF1 and eRF3. Using Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model organism, we have identified a member of the DEAD-box protein (DBP) family, the DEAD-box RNA helicase and mRNA export factor Dbp5, as a player in translation termination. Dbp5 interacts genetically with both release factors and the polyadenlyate-binding protein Pab1. A physical interaction was specifically detected with eRF1. Moreover, we show that the helicase activity of Dbp5 is required for efficient stop-codon recognition, and intact Dbp5 is essential for recruitment of eRF3 into termination complexes. Therefore, Dbp5 controls the eRF3-eRF1 interaction and thus eRF3-mediated downstream events.